In this issue of our newsletter, meet the new Interim City Manager, the Santa Ana Winter Village returns, help us name our Parks and Rec mascots, and learn about the new public art at our South Main Street bus shelters.
Spotlight Photo
Public Works staff clean up after the recent windstorm
Photo Credit: PWA staff
To submit your own original photo of Santa Ana to be featured in the next newsletter, complete this form.
City Manager’s Highlights
A message from Interim City Manager Tom Hatch
Greetings to the Santa Ana community!
As you may have heard, the Santa Ana City Council appointed me as Interim City Manager on Nov. 21. Thank you to all of our elected officials for placing their trust in me to serve in this capacity while the City Council conducts a search for the best qualified candidate to fill the position permanently. It is an honor and obligation that I take very seriously. My role during this transition is to lead the City of Santa Ana’s over 1,400 staff and ensure that we continue to provide efficient and effective services to the community.
My personal background and career include 36 years of local government experience, working for the cities of Walnut, Brea, South Pasadena, West Covina, El Monte, Costa Mesa and Orange, as well as the County of Orange. I served as the Costa Mesa City Manager, as the Interim City Manager of Orange, and as Interim City Manager for the Santa Fe Springs earlier this year.
I look forward to meeting and serving you all.
- Interim City Manager Tom Hatch
Read more about the Interim City Manager
News
United Santa Ana community says ‘no’ to unsafe homeless services center
This week, our City Councilmembers, neighborhood leaders, Santa Ana residents and City staff showed a united front at the Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting to oppose a County contract renewal with the Mental Health Association of Orange County (MHA.) MHA’s multi-service center for the homeless at 2416 S. Main St. has for years been a public nuisance that has caused health and safety issues at nearby schools, businesses, neighborhoods and the Delhi Center.
Although we didn’t get the outcome we had hoped for – denial of a contract renewal for MHA – the Board said that MHA can no longer operate its homeless multi-service center at 2416 S. Main St. past 2024 and must find a new location. This is ultimately a win for the Santa Ana community. Our police and quality of life team will continue to keep a close eye on MHA’s operations until the location finally closes.
Read more about the MHA decision
3rd annual Santa Ana Winter Village returns!
The Santa Ana Winter Village returns to downtown Santa Ana from Dec. 2 to Dec. 31, bringing outdoor ice skating and holiday festivities to the community. This event is presented by our Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency and is designed to engage area residents while encouraging visitors to shop and dine in Downtown Santa Ana and support the local business community.
Santa Ana Winter Village will officially open with a tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2.
For updated event information, ice-skating hours, advance ice-skating ticket sales, parking information and more, visit the Santa Ana Winter Village link.
And check out our Winter Village promo that just aired on KCAL News!
Help us name the new Parks and Rec mascots!
The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency is excited to introduce three new mascots who were selected to represent the agency, and is asking for your help to name them.
Over the next few weeks, a community poll will be conducted to select the names of the mascots, which include a red-crowned amazon parrot, golden-headed lion tamarin, and a giant-river otter. Parrots are famously known for soaring across the city, tamarins have a long-admired history inside the zoo, and otters will become Santa Ana’s newest residents. All three animals will perfectly embody the spirit of Santa Ana.
The community poll closes December 17, 2023, and selected names will be announced on January 1, 2024, to ring in the new year with newly named teammates.
Vote in the Parks and Recreation mascot poll
Shop Local offers marketing for businesses, prizes for shoppers
The Economic Development Division is excited to continue the Shop Local, Shop Santa Ana campaign to highlight the small businesses that make Santa Ana the unique and vibrant community it is. The campaign kicked off on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25 and runs through the end of the year.
Santa Ana small business owners can actively participate in this campaign by subscribing to the business registry. Your businesses will be featured on the City’s Shop Local webpage, receive marketing material, and may also be featured via social media.
Shoppers are encouraged to participate by using the hashtag #shopsantaana and tagging @santaanadoesbusiness on Instagram with their local purchases for a chance to win prizes. Visit the Shop Local webpage for more information and to participate.
Shop Local, Shop Santa Ana: https://www.santa-ana.org/shop-local/
Sports field closures through Feb. 13, 2024
To effectively provide and sufficiently maintain City athletic fields, scheduled rotating field closures occur during the year for turf recovery, field maintenance, and overall improvements.
- Morrison Park, through Dec. 4, 2023, 2801 N. Westwood Ave.
- Portola Park, through Dec. 11, 2023, 1700 E. Santa Clara Ave.
- Rosita Park, through Dec. 11, 2023, 706 N. Newhope St.
- Heritage Park, through Dec. 18, 2023, 4812 W. Camille Ave.
- Thornton Park, Dec. 4 – Feb. 5, 2024, 1801 W. Segerstrom Ave.
- Madison Park, Dec. 11 – Feb. 13, 2024, 1528 S. Standard Ave.
The fields will be fenced off completely and will not be open to the public. Please use alternate athletic fields nearby while these park fields are under construction.
Street closures and permitted events Nov. 30-Dec. 6
Here are the locations of upcoming permitted events and road closures at the link below so you can plan accordingly. Please drive slowly and safely in construction zones and around crowded events.
Street Closures and Permitted Events
Tales of the City
Local art featured on Main Street bus shelters
Bus riders can now admire local artwork on South Main Street while they wait for their ride.
The Public Works Agency partnered with the Arts and Culture Commission to integrate public art into the community’s daily life along the South Main Street corridor. The Agency issued a Call for Public Art Proposals to artists or art teams with connections or ties to Santa Ana for original designs to embed into the reconstruction along South Main Street between First Street and Warner Avenue. A panel reviewed the art submissions and awarded commissions to 14 artists or teams for their designs at 17 bus stop locations.
The selected pieces, which were installed on Oct. 16, include QR codes on the bottom left corner directing the public to the City website, which contains art narratives and the history of South Main. The placement of the art was determined through collaboration with various community leaders who contributed valuable insights, creating a connection between the artwork and the historical sites along the corridor.
The locations of the bus shelters and photos of the artwork can be viewed on this map.
The artwork pictured at top is “Commute” by artist Wendy Duong, who described her process.
“I wanted to play around with how the characters interacted using humor and playfulness,” she said. “I exaggerate the characters’ figures and entangle the limbs to represent how everyone and everything is connected and influences each other in a community. I also wanted nature to break into the scene, even if it was fantastical, to bring the outdoors into the bus.”
She added: “Santa Ana’s support and grants for local artists is immensely beneficial to both the artist and the community. It has offered artists amazing opportunities that are difficult to obtain and allows viewers to be exposed to an array of talented local artists. Being able to display my art on a larger scale, like at this bus shelter, is rewarding, and I am grateful I am able to contribute art to Santa Ana’s community.”
The artwork pictured above is called “The Soul of Santa Ana” by artist Dore Kittrell.
“As a woman of color, I was initially drawn to Betty Willis’ story when I discovered she was a black American soul singer,” she said. “It was only after digging a little deeper into her story that I learned of her untimely death. I felt inspired to shine a light on her life and music career, and to share her story with the community. Santa Ana has a unique cultural identity here in Orange County, and the city’s investment in the arts has enriched and revitalized that identity as a vibrant place to live, work, and visit, as well as preserved the city’s cultural heritage.”
City Council Meetings
At their November 21, 2023, meeting, the Santa Ana City Council:
- Denied an appeal and upheld the Planning Commission’s denial of a conditional use permit to allow a proposed assembly use by Anchor Stone Christian Church at 2938 S. Daimler St.
- Affirmed the Planning Commission’s resolution naming a new park at Standard and McFadden avenues as Gerardo Mouet Park and adopted resolutions to allow the park to be built at the site.
- Appointed Tom Hatch as Interim City Manager.
- Approved the first reading of an ordinance to provide that compensation for City Boards and Commissions be set by resolution of the City Council.
- Approved an agreement with Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Inc. for design services for a Park Master Plan and Community Center at Chepa’s Park.
Subscribe here to receive City meeting agenda notifications. City Council meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with the closed session beginning at 5 p.m. or earlier. The open meeting session begins at 5:30 p.m. Meetings have both in-person and virtual participation and attendance and are live streamed on the City’s YouTube channel and our TV channel, CTV3 (channel 3 on Spectrum.) If you’d like to provide public comments on agenda and non-agenda items, you can email, attend in person, or join the Zoom webinar online or by phone.
Events
Santa Ana Winter Village: Tree Lighting ceremony – December 2
Join us for the start of the holiday season as we officially open the 2023 Winter Village!
This special event will include a 30-foot tree lighting ceremony, beginning promptly at 5:30 p.m.. The community can look forward to a light show, ice skating, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus.
- Saturday, December 2
- 5-8 p.m.
- Civic Center Plaza, 717 W. Santa Ana Blvd. (behind City Hall)
Garage Sale Weekend – Dec. 2 & 3
Residential garage and yard sales are allowed this weekend, December 2 and 3, 2023. Sales may begin at 8 a.m. and must end at 5 p.m. each day. Garage and yard sales are ONLY allowed on residential properties and are NOT allowed on bike trails, sidewalks and other public areas.
Garage and yard sales are permitted on the first full weekend of March, June, September and December of each year. No permit is required.
Pancakes with Santa at SAPD – December 2
Santa Claus is coming to town! Join Santa Ana Police Department for Pancakes with Santa in front of the SAPD Headquarters. Enjoy lots of fun holiday activities and, of course, meet Santa Claus.
- Saturday, December 2
- 8-10 a.m.
- Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza
OCTA community meetings to plan biking and walking trail – Dec. 5 and 7
Join Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) virtually on Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 6-7 p.m. or in-person on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6-8 p.m. to learn how you can help develop a biking and walking trail in Garden Grove and Santa Ana. Can’t make it? Provide your input by completing the community survey by Dec. 18, 2023, and enter for a chance to win one of two $50 gift cards. Participate now and receive project updates and future meeting invitations. Learn more about the plan by visiting occonnect-storymap.com.
- Tuesday, Dec. 5 (virtual meeting)
- 6 p.m.
- Webinar registration
- Thursday, Dec. 7 (in-person meeting)
- 6-8 p.m.
- Santiago High School, 12342 Trask Ave., Garden Grove
Learn about the OCTA trail project: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bd56b338cfdb41cfbdb13d0835c39cea
Read to a Dog – December 7
The Santa Ana Public Library would like to invite our young readers to join us for a delightful and heartwarming experience at our Read to a Dog children’s program! Children of all reading abilities receive the opportunity to improve their reading skills while building confidence in a non-judgmental and supportive environment. Come read, practice, and get to know our amazing canine team.
- Thursday, Dec. 7
- 4-5 p.m.
- Main Library, 26 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana Winter Village: Anaheim Ducks Day – December 9
Get into the holiday spirit as we host Anaheim Ducks Day with our friends Wildwing and the Anaheim Ducks Street Team. Buy ice-skating tickets for Dec. 9 to join in the fun.
- Saturday, Dec. 9
- 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Civic Center Plaza, 717. W Santa Ana Blvd.
Winter Village Ice-Skating tickets: https://www.santa-ana.org/wintervillage-ice-skating-tickets/
Public Information Session: Intersection Improvements at Bristol St. and Santa Clara Ave. – December 12
The Public Works Agency is making improvements to the traffic signal at the intersection of Bristol Street and Santa Clara Avenue, which includes the installation of new left turn arrows for north and south directions. You are invited to a public information session to review the plans for the intersection improvements, learn how this project will affect you, and the opportunity to share your comments. Click the link below to read more.
- Tuesday, Dec. 12
- 4-5:30 p.m.
- Northeast corner of Bristol Street and Santa Clara Avenue
Bristol Street and Santa Clara Project: https://www.santa-ana.org/intersection-improvements-bristol-st-santa-clara-ave/
Ride of Lights holiday bike ride – Dec. 21
Join Santa Ana Active Streets (SAAS) for their Ride of Lights, a family-cycling event starting from Latino Health Access. This free event will offer a short 2-mile route for beginners and families, and a long 5-mile route for experienced adults. Both routes will be a flat, slow-paced ride. Don’t forget to show off your holiday spirit by decorating your bike and dressing up! SAS will provide FREE helmets and bike lights to anyone who needs them before the ride. Don’t have a bike? Reserve one in the registration form. Bikes are limited and reserved for those who do not own one. For more information, contact Maria Baeza at 714-202-7393, maria@saascoalition.org or go to https://saascoalition.org/events/.
- Thursday, Dec. 21
- 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Latino Health Access, 450 W. 4th St.
Ride of Lights: https://saascoalition.org/events/
Resources
Report issues with the mySantaAna app
The mySantaAna mobile app puts the power of the City of Santa Ana government in the palm of your hand! Download the app to quickly and easily report issues such as potholes, graffiti, downed trees and much more.
Who do I call at City Hall?
Important phone numbers:
- City Hall main line: (714) 647-5400
- Code Enforcement: (714) 667-2780
- Graffiti Hotline: (877) 786-7824
- Emergency Water Services: (714) 953-8026
- Public Works dispatch (street sweeping, trees): (714) 647-3380
Find more phone numbers for all City services
Utility services
- City utility services
- Southern California Edison: Call (800) 447-6620
- Southern California Gas: Call (800) 207-8567
- Trash pick up: Call (877) 328-2074